Sounds like cyclical thought hearkening back to Nikola Tesla's theory. It has since been proven that his world wide wireless power transmission wouldn't work. Passive and stand alone collection I doubt would fare much better.

"we may develop stand-alone air-powered generators that supply electricity off the grid. Once we get to an industrial scale for wire production, I fully expect that we can make large systems that will make a major contribution to sustainable energy production."

Is this the generator invented by John Galt in AS, producing electricity from static?

So, although the article didn't say, these microbes can use static electricity. Like my home in the winter where the humidity is less than 30 percent and we get shocked everytime we touch the door knobs....yikes! LOL.

From the article: "It can generate power even in areas with extremely low humidity such as the Sahara Desert. It has significant advantages over other forms of renewable energy including solar and wind, Lovley says, because unlike these other renewable energy sources, the Air-gen does not require sunlight or wind, and 'it even works indoors.'"

Hmmm, so that is where the "Negative" 5 volts I measured in the air comes from here in Ct....probably from blumenthal and murphy...

Won't work in desert climates or in your home in areas where winters are cold.

Just imagine the electricity that could be generated during a Micro Nova when much of the surface water is evaporated on the side of the earth facing the sun.
Good time to charge up your Tesla batteries before things get cold and dark for a long time.

Not all microbes are Democrats.

"Lovley discovered the Geobacter microbe in the mud of the Potomac River"

What, something productive from the swamp?