I've not taken the time yet to read either your write-up or that paper. That's on top of another ten that have been cited in the answers I've received so far. I'm busy enough that I don't know when I'll have time to read all of them but it could be weeks before I finish reading all of them. Yet what I was seeking was better sources and now I've got more, in quality and quantity, then I was prepared to receive, so thanks!

Also, Matthew Dalhausen's answer reaches some conclusions that are somewhat the opposite of the ones you've presented, so I'd be interested in what conclusion(s) you two discussing the matter would generate. 

My loose impression is that some recent excitement is driven by Small Modular Reactors, and of course, climate change.

I'm aware of SMRs but most of the info I'm exposed to about them is either mainstream media. That tends to be more sensational and focuses on how exciting the are instead of on data. Mainstream science reporting is better but such articles commonly rehash the basics, like simply describing what SMRs are, instead of getting into details like projected development timelines. 

I can check whether anyone in the forecasting community, either in or outside of EA, are asking those questions. Others in EA who've studied or worked in a relevant field may also know more or know someone who does. Please let me know if you otherwise know of sources providing more specific information on the future of SMRs.

Nuclear in contrast is actually getting more expensive. Possibly due to increased regulatory/safety overhead.

In the tweet you've linked to, Patrick Collison's comment on the subject frames the matter as though the dramatic increase in regulation that has slowed down the construction of new nuclear power plants is irrational in general. That may be the case but it was only after the 1950s that problems that nuclear power plants may pose if not managed properly become apparent. 

It's because of nuclear meltdowns that more regulations were introduced. It shouldn't be surprising if constructing new nuclear power plants even years longer than it took to construct them decades ago. They should take significantly longer to construct at present for them to be constructed and managed safely in perpetuity. 

One could argue that at this point it's been an over-correction and now the construction and maintenance of new nuclear power plants is over-regulated. The case for that specific argument must be made on its own but it wasn't either by Patrick or the person who posted the original tweet he quote-tweeted/retweeted. I of course appreciate you providing that link to get the point across, and it's not your fault, but the tweet itself is useless. 

The Foreign Policy article they're quoting is behind a paywall on their website I don't have access to right now but I'll try getting access to it. If I do, I can copy-paste its contents into a document I can share privately upon request.

I've not taken the time to read in full the other articles to which you've linked. Once I have, I'll reply letting you know what if any more comments I have. 

(I've got a longer response to the part of your comment comparing the rate of development of nuclear energy in different countries, so I'm posting it as its own comment. I'll respond to the other points you've made in a separate comment.)

Some are even plant closures (mostly US, Canada, Germany), but China has a ton of new plants. Other countries with new plants and planned plants include Finland, Egypt, France, Poland, Russia, Turkey, even the US!

The primary motivation for plant closures I'm aware of are concerns about health, safety,  pollution and potential catastrophe. That's the case in North America after the meltdown on Three Mile Island and also Japan after the Fukashima Daiyichi reactor meltdown. A difference with Germany is that Germany has had an exceptionally strong Green movement, as a social and political movement. That's resulted in Germany shutting down more nuclear power plants down over environmental concerns but also a greater proportionate development of renewable energy compared to many other Western countries. 

One pattern is that the countries where nuclear power plants tend to either be shut down at greater rates or built at lower rates is that they are liberal democracies. It's easy to presume that because liberal-democratic governments are more subject to the pressure(s) of public opinion,  (relatively more) authoritarian governments face fewer political hurdles to building nuclear power plants. Yet as the country that has built the most nuclear power plants the fastest in China, I would expect the greater factor is not necessarily that it's an authoritarian but a more technocratic government that's able to overcome more easily what would otherwise be political barriers. 

Egypt, Russia, Turkey and Poland are all countries that are rated as having become more authoritarian over the last several years. Yet the development of nuclear power plants takes as many if not even more years, so the increasing rate of development of nuclear energy in those countries could easily precede their more authoritarian political pivots. All of those other countries are neither building nuclear power plants as fast as China is nor are their governments particularly technocratic. 

Like yourself, I've not studied this subject as closely but either that Wikipedia article or other, related sources may make clearer which of these hypotheses do or don't bear out. Thank you for sharing that useful resource. Depending on the other feedback I get and whether I find the time later, I may author an article for the EA Forum evaluating that data and these hypotheses. Please let me know any other hypotheses you might have and I would assess those as well. 

Edit: Hauke Hillebrandt left a couple different answers representing different viewpoints but his answer here reached some conclusions that somewhat contrast with your own. I'd be interesting to learn what other conclusions might be reached if you two were to discuss the points where you might disagree.

I'll reply to this comment at greater length later once I've read it more closely but I wanted to thank you now for taking the time to write it, as it's very informative.