diff --git a/e3sm_supported_machines/create_new_e3sm_unified_env.bash b/e3sm_supported_machines/create_new_e3sm_unified_env.bash
deleted file mode 100755
index 5d377aa..0000000
--- a/e3sm_supported_machines/create_new_e3sm_unified_env.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,279 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-check_env () {
-  echo "Checking the environment $env_name"
-  export CDAT_ANONYMOUS_LOG=no
-
-  if python -c "import vcs"; then
-    echo "  vcs passed"
-  else
-    echo "  vcs failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
- if python -c "import ILAMB"; then
-    echo "  ILAMB passed"
-  else
-    echo "  ILAMB failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if python -c "import acme_diags"; then
-    echo "  import acme_diags passed"
-  else
-    echo "  import acme_diags failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if e3sm_diags --help; then
-    echo "  e3sm_diags passed"
-  else
-    echo "  e3sm_diags failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if python -c "import mpas_analysis"; then
-    echo "  import mpas_analysis passed"
-  else
-    echo "  import mpas_analysis failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if mpas_analysis -h; then
-    echo "  mpas_analysis passed"
-  else
-    echo "  mpas_analysis failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if python -c "import livvkit"; then
-    echo "  livvkit passed"
-  else
-    echo "  livvkit failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if livv --version; then
-    echo "  livv passed"
-  else
-    echo "  livv failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if python -c "import IPython"; then
-    echo "  IPython passed"
-  else
-    echo "  IPython failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if  python -c "import globus_cli"; then
-    echo "  globus_cli passed"
-  else
-    echo "  globus_cli failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if globus --help; then
-    echo "  globus passed"
-  else
-    echo "  globus failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if python -c "import zstash"; then
-    echo "  import zstash passed"
-  else
-    echo "  import zstash failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if zstash --help; then
-    echo "  zstash passed"
-  else
-    echo "  zstash failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if zstash --help; then
-    echo "  zstash passed"
-  else
-    echo "  zstash failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if GenerateCSMesh --res 64 --alt --file gravitySam.000000.3d.cubedSphere.g; then
-    echo "  tempest-remap passed"
-  else
-    echo "  tempest-remap failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if processflow -v; then
-    echo "  processflow passed"
-  else
-    echo "  processflow failed"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-}
-
-
-# Modify the following to choose which e3sm-unified version(s) the python version(s) are installed and whether to make
-# an environment with x-windows support under cdat (cdatx) and/or without (nox).  Typically, both environments should
-# be created.
-versions=(1.3.1)
-pythons=(3.7)
-env_types=(nox cdatx)
-
-default_python=3.7
-default_env_type=nox
-
-# Any subsequent commands which fail will cause the shell script to exit
-# immediately
-set -e
-# The rest of the script should not need to be modified
-if [[ $HOSTNAME = "cori"* ]] || [[ $HOSTNAME = "dtn"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/global/cfs/cdirs/e3sm/software/anaconda_envs/base"
-  activ_path="/global/cfs/cdirs/e3sm/software/anaconda_envs"
-  group="e3sm"
-  module unload PrgEnv-intel
-  module load PrgEnv-gnu
-  module unload craype-hugepages2M
-  custom_script="echo module unlaod PrgEnv-intel"
-  custom_script="${custom_script}"$'\n'"module unload PrgEnv-intel"
-  custom_script="${custom_script}"$'\n'"echo module load PrgEnv-gnu"
-  custom_script="${custom_script}"$'\n'"module laod PrgEnv-gnu"
-  custom_script="${custom_script}"$'\n'"echo module unload craype-hugepages2M"
-  custom_script="${custom_script}"$'\n'"module unload craype-hugepages2M"
-  mpicc="$(which cc) -shared"
-  mpi="nompi"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "acme1"* ]] || [[ $HOSTNAME = "aims4"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/usr/local/e3sm_unified/envs/base"
-  activ_path="/usr/local/e3sm_unified/envs"
-  group="climate"
-  mpi="mpich"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "blueslogin"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/lcrc/soft/climate/e3sm-unified/base"
-  activ_path="/lcrc/soft/climate/e3sm-unified"
-  group="climate"
-  mpi="mpich"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "rhea"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/ccs/proj/cli900/sw/rhea/e3sm-unified/base"
-  activ_path="/ccs/proj/cli900/sw/rhea/e3sm-unified"
-  group="cli900"
-  mpi="nompi"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "cooley"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/lus/theta-fs0/projects/ccsm/acme/tools/e3sm-unified/base"
-  activ_path="/lus/theta-fs0/projects/ccsm/acme/tools/e3sm-unified"
-  group="ccsm"
-  mpi="nompi"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "compy"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/share/apps/E3SM/conda_envs/base"
-  activ_path="/share/apps/E3SM/conda_envs"
-  group="users"
-  mpi="mpich"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "gr-fe"* ]] || [[ $HOSTNAME = "wf-fe"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/usr/projects/climate/SHARED_CLIMATE/anaconda_envs/base"
-  activ_path="/usr/projects/climate/SHARED_CLIMATE/anaconda_envs"
-  group="climate"
-  mpi="mpich"
-elif [[ $HOSTNAME = "burnham"* ]]; then
-  base_path="/home/xylar/Desktop/test_e3sm_unified/base"
-  activ_path="/home/xylar/Desktop/test_e3sm_unified"
-  group="xylar"
-  mpi="mpich"
-else
-  echo "Unknown host name $HOSTNAME.  Add env_path and group for this machine to the script."
-  exit 1
-fi
-
-if [ ! -d $base_path ]; then
-  miniconda=Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
-  wget https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/$miniconda
-  /bin/bash $miniconda -b -p $base_path
-  rm $miniconda
-fi
-
-# activate the new environment
-source ${base_path}/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
-conda activate
-
-conda config --add channels conda-forge
-conda config --set channel_priority strict
-conda update -y --all
-
-for version in "${versions[@]}"
-do
-  for python in "${pythons[@]}"
-  do
-    for env_type in "${env_types[@]}"
-    do
-      if [ "$env_type" == "nox" ]; then
-        channels="--override-channels -c conda-forge -c defaults -c e3sm -c cdat/label/v82"
-        packages="python=$python e3sm-unified=${version}=mpi_${mpi}* mesalib"
-      else
-        channels="--override-channels -c conda-forge -c defaults -c e3sm -c cdat/label/v82"
-        packages="python=$python e3sm-unified=${version}=mpi_${mpi}*"
-      fi
-
-      if [[ "$python" == "$default_python" && "$env_type" == "$default_env_type" ]]; then
-        suffix=""
-      elif [[ "$python" == "$default_python" ]]; then
-        suffix="_${env_type}"
-      else
-        suffix="_py${python}_${env_type}"
-      fi
-
-      env_name=e3sm_unified_${version}${suffix}
-      if [ ! -d "$base_path/envs/$env_name" ]; then
-        echo creating "$env_name"
-        conda create -n "$env_name" -y $channels $packages
-        conda activate "$env_name"
-        conda deactivate
-      else
-        echo "$env_name" already exists
-      fi
-
-      conda activate "$env_name"
-      check_env
-      conda deactivate
-
-      mkdir -p "$activ_path"
-
-      # make activation scripts
-      for ext in sh csh
-      do
-        script=""
-        if [[ $ext = "sh" ]]; then
-          script="${script}"$'\n'"if [ -x \"\$(command -v module)\" ] ; then"
-          script="${script}"$'\n'"  module unload python"
-          script="${script}"$'\n'"fi"
-        fi
-        script="${script}"$'\n'"source ${base_path}/etc/profile.d/conda.${ext}"
-        script="${script}"$'\n'"conda activate $env_name"
-        file_name=$activ_path/load_latest_e3sm_unified${suffix}.${ext}
-        rm -f "$file_name"
-        echo "${script}" > "$file_name"
-      done
-    done
-  done
-done
-
-# delete the tarballs and any unused packages
-conda clean -y -p -t
-
-# continue if errors happen from here on
-set +e
-
-echo "changing permissions on activation scripts"
-chown "$USER":$group $activ_path/load_latest_e3sm_unified*
-chmod go+r,go-w $activ_path/load_latest_e3sm_unified*
-
-echo "changing permissions on environments"
-cd $base_path
-echo "  changing directory permissions"
-find $base_path -user $USER -type d -exec chgrp $group "{}" \; \
-    -exec chmod u=rwx,go=rx "{}" \;
-echo "  changing file permissions"
-find $base_path -user $USER -type f -exec chgrp $group "{}" \; \
-    -exec chmod u+rw,go+r,go-w "{}" \;
-echo "  done."
-
diff --git a/e3sm_supported_machines/create_new_e3sm_unified_env.py b/e3sm_supported_machines/create_new_e3sm_unified_env.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d577d16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e3sm_supported_machines/create_new_e3sm_unified_env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import subprocess
+import os
+import socket
+import glob
+import stat
+import pwd
+import grp
+import requests
+import progressbar
+
+
+def check_env(base_path, env_name):
+    print("Checking the environment {}".format(env_name))
+    env = os.environ
+    env['CDAT_ANONYMOUS_LOG'] = 'no'
+
+    activate = 'source {}/etc/profile.d/conda.sh; conda activate {}'.format(
+        base_path, env_name)
+
+    imports = ['vcs', 'ILAMB', 'acme_diags', 'mpas_analysis', 'livvkit',
+               'IPython', 'globus_cli', 'zstash']
+    for import_name in imports:
+        command = '{}; python -c "import {}"'.format(activate, import_name)
+        try:
+            subprocess.check_call(command, env=env, executable='/bin/bash',
+                                  shell=True)
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+            print('  {} failed'.format(import_name))
+            raise e
+        print('  {} passes'.format(import_name))
+
+    commands = [['e3sm_diags', '--help'],
+                ['mpas_analysis', '-h'],
+                ['livv', '--version'],
+                ['globus', '--help'],
+                ['zstash', '--help'],
+                ['processflow', '-v']]
+
+    for command in commands:
+        exec = command[0]
+        command = '{}; {}'.format(activate, ' '.join(command))
+        try:
+            subprocess.check_call(command, env=env, executable='/bin/bash',
+                                  shell=True, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+            print('  {} failed'.format(exec))
+            raise e
+        print('  {} passes'.format(exec))
+
+    package = 'tempest-remap'
+    command = '{}; GenerateCSMesh --res 64 --alt --file ' \
+              'gravitySam.000000.3d.cubedSphere.g'.format(activate)
+    try:
+        subprocess.check_call(command, env=env, executable='/bin/bash',
+                              shell=True, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        print('  {} failed'.format(package))
+        raise e
+    print('  {} passes'.format(package))
+
+
+def get_host_info():
+    hostname = socket.gethostname()
+    if hostname.startswith('cori') or hostname.startswith('dtn'):
+        base_path = "/global/cfs/cdirs/e3sm/software/anaconda_envs/base"
+        activ_path = "/global/cfs/cdirs/e3sm/software/anaconda_envs"
+        group = "e3sm"
+    elif hostname.startswith('acme1') or hostname.startswith('aims4'):
+        base_path = "/usr/local/e3sm_unified/envs/base"
+        activ_path = "/usr/local/e3sm_unified/envs"
+        group = "climate"
+    elif hostname.startswith('blueslogin'):
+        base_path = "/lcrc/soft/climate/e3sm-unified/base"
+        activ_path = "/lcrc/soft/climate/e3sm-unified"
+        group = "climate"
+    elif hostname.startswith('rhea'):
+        base_path = "/ccs/proj/cli900/sw/rhea/e3sm-unified/base"
+        activ_path = "/ccs/proj/cli900/sw/rhea/e3sm-unified"
+        group = "cli900"
+    elif hostname.startswith('cooley'):
+        base_path = "/lus/theta-fs0/projects/ccsm/acme/tools/e3sm-unified/base"
+        activ_path = "/lus/theta-fs0/projects/ccsm/acme/tools/e3sm-unified"
+        group = "ccsm"
+    elif hostname.startswith('compy'):
+        base_path = "/share/apps/E3SM/conda_envs/base"
+        activ_path = "/share/apps/E3SM/conda_envs"
+        group = "users"
+    elif hostname.startswith('gr-fe') or hostname.startswith('wf-fe'):
+        base_path = "/usr/projects/climate/SHARED_CLIMATE/anaconda_envs/base"
+        activ_path = "/usr/projects/climate/SHARED_CLIMATE/anaconda_envs"
+        group = "climate"
+    elif hostname.startswith('burnham'):
+        base_path = "/home/xylar/Desktop/test_e3sm_unified/base"
+        activ_path = "/home/xylar/Desktop/test_e3sm_unified"
+        group = "xylar"
+    else:
+        raise ValueError("Unknown host name {}.  Add env_path and group for "
+                         "this machine to the script.".format(hostname))
+
+    return base_path, activ_path, group
+
+
+def main():
+    # Modify the following list of dictionaries to choose which e3sm-unified
+    # version, python version, whether to make an environment with
+    # x-windows support under cdat (cdatx) and/or without (nox), and which mpi
+    # variant (nompi, mpich or openmpi) to use.
+
+    envs = [{'suffix': '',
+             'version': '1.3.1',
+             'python': '3.7',
+             'env_type': 'nox',
+             'mpi': 'nompi'},
+            {'suffix': '_cdatx',
+             'version': '1.3.1',
+             'python': '3.7',
+             'env_type': 'cdatx',
+             'mpi': 'nompi'},
+            {'suffix': '_mpich',
+             'version': '1.3.1',
+             'python': '3.7',
+             'env_type': 'nox',
+             'mpi': 'mpich'}]
+
+    base_path, activ_path, group = get_host_info()
+
+    if not os.path.exists(base_path):
+        miniconda = 'Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh'
+        url = 'https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/{}'.format(miniconda)
+        r = requests.get(url)
+        with open(miniconda, 'wb') as outfile:
+            outfile.write(r.content)
+
+        command = '/bin/bash {} -b -p {}'.format(miniconda, base_path)
+        subprocess.check_call(command, executable='/bin/bash', shell=True)
+        os.remove(miniconda)
+
+    print('Doing initial setup')
+    activate = 'source {}/etc/profile.d/conda.sh; conda activate'.format(
+        base_path)
+
+    commands = '{}; conda config --add channels conda-forge; ' \
+               'conda config --set channel_priority strict; ' \
+               'conda update -y --all'.format(activate)
+
+    subprocess.check_call(commands, executable='/bin/bash', shell=True)
+    print('done')
+
+    for env in envs:
+        version = env['version']
+        suffix = env['suffix']
+        python = env['python']
+        env_type = env['env_type']
+        mpi = env['mpi']
+        if mpi == 'nompi':
+            mpi_prefix = 'nompi'
+        else:
+            mpi_prefix = 'mpi_{}'.format(mpi)
+
+        channels = '--override-channels -c conda-forge -c defaults ' \
+                   '-c e3sm -c cdat/label/v82'
+        packages = 'python={} "e3sm-unified={}={}_*"'.format(
+            python, version, mpi_prefix)
+        if env_type == 'nox':
+            packages = '{} mesalib'.format(packages)
+
+        env_name = 'e3sm_unified_{}{}'.format(version, suffix)
+        if not os.path.exists('{}/envs/{}'.format(base_path, env_name)):
+            print('creating {}'.format(env_name))
+            commands = '{}; conda create -y -n {} {} {}'.format(
+                activate, env_name, channels, packages)
+            subprocess.check_call(commands, executable='/bin/bash', shell=True)
+        else:
+            print('{} already exists'.format(env_name))
+
+        check_env(base_path, env_name)
+
+        try:
+            os.makedirs(activ_path)
+        except FileExistsError:
+            pass
+
+        for ext in ['sh', 'csh']:
+            script = []
+            if ext == 'sh':
+                script.extend(['if [ -x "$(command -v module)" ] ; then\n',
+                               '  module unload python\n',
+                               'fi\n'])
+            script.append('source {}/etc/profile.d/conda.{}\n'.format(
+                base_path, ext))
+            script.append('conda activate {}\n'.format(env_name))
+
+            file_name = '{}/load_latest_e3sm_unified{}.{}'.format(
+                activ_path, suffix, ext)
+            if os.path.exists(file_name):
+                os.remove(file_name)
+            with open(file_name, 'w') as f:
+                f.writelines(script)
+
+    commands = '{}; conda clean -y -p -t'.format(activate)
+    subprocess.check_call(commands, executable='/bin/bash', shell=True)
+
+    print('changing permissions on activation scripts')
+    activation_files = glob.glob('{}/load_latest_e3sm_unified*'.format(
+        activ_path))
+
+    read_perm = stat.S_IRUSR | stat.S_IWUSR | stat.S_IRGRP | stat.S_IROTH
+    exec_perm = (stat.S_IRUSR | stat.S_IWUSR | stat.S_IXUSR |
+                 stat.S_IRGRP | stat.S_IXGRP |
+                 stat.S_IROTH | stat.S_IXOTH)
+
+    for file_name in activation_files:
+        os.chmod(file_name, read_perm)
+
+    print('changing permissions on environments')
+
+    uid = os.getuid()
+    gid = grp.getgrnam(group).gr_gid
+
+    files_and_dirs = []
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(base_path):
+        files_and_dirs.extend(dirs)
+        files_and_dirs.extend(files)
+
+    widgets = [progressbar.Percentage(), ' ', progressbar.Bar(),
+               ' ', progressbar.ETA()]
+    bar = progressbar.ProgressBar(widgets=widgets,
+                                  maxval=len(files_and_dirs)).start()
+    progress = 0
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(base_path):
+        for directory in dirs:
+            progress += 1
+            bar.update(progress)
+
+            directory = os.path.join(root, directory)
+            try:
+                os.chown(directory, uid, gid)
+                os.chmod(directory, exec_perm)
+            except OSError:
+                continue
+
+
+        for file_name in files:
+            progress += 1
+            bar.update(progress)
+            file_name = os.path.join(root, file_name)
+            try:
+                perm = os.stat(file_name).st_mode
+            except OSError:
+                continue
+
+            if perm & stat.S_IXUSR:
+                # executable, so make sure others can execute it
+                perm = exec_perm
+            else:
+                perm = read_perm
+
+            try:
+                os.chown(file_name, uid, gid)
+                os.chmod(file_name, perm)
+            except OSError:
+                continue
+
+    bar.finish()
+    print('  done.')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()